NEA Controller – Finance

NEA Controller – FinanceReports To: Senior Director – Finance (NEA & Iraq)Business Unit: ACCBC – North East Africa (NEA)Function: Finance (Controllership & Governance)Grade: TBCLocation: NEA (Primary)Purpose of the JobThe NEA Controller is the senior controllership authority for ACCBC’s North East Africa (NEA) markets, accountable for financial integrity, statutory compliance, internal control effectiveness, and balance sheet discipline across the NEA cluster.Reporting to the Senior Director – Finance (NEA & Iraq), the role operates as the first line of financial assurance for NEA, ensuring that financial results are accurate, risks are surfaced early, controls are effective, and enterprise accounting standards are applied consistently—while enabling timely decision-making and operational execution.This role ensures that actuals, statutory numbers, and balance sheet positions are reliable, defensible, and audit-ready.Operating ContextThe NEA cluster operates within a demanding finance and governance environment:Multi-country footprint with diverse statutory, tax, and regulatory regimesManufacturing, commercial, and distribution operations with high working-capital intensityERP-enabled finance processes requiring strong configuration and control disciplineSignificant exposure to provisions, estimates, intercompany balances, and inventory valuationIncreasing scrutiny from auditors, regulators, and enterprise finance leadershipSuccess in this role requires hands-on controllership leadership, strong technical judgment, and calm execution discipline, with zero tolerance for control breaches or undocumented exposures.Key Roles and Responsibilities1. Financial Controllership & Accounting GovernanceOwn NEA accounting integrity in line with IFRS, Group Accounting Policies, and local GAAP.Ensure consistent application of accounting standards across all NEA legal entities.Review and approve complex accounting judgments, estimates, and provisions.Maintain accounting manuals, close checklists, and documentation standards for NEA.2. Statutory Reporting, Close & Audit ManagementOwn monthly, quarterly, and annual close for all NEA entities.Ensure timely, accurate statutory financial statements and management actuals.Act as the primary NEA interface for external auditors and regulators.Deliver unqualified audit outcomes and ensure timely closure of audit findings.3. Balance Sheet Integrity & Risk DisciplineOwn balance sheet governance, reconciliations, and substantiation discipline.Oversee intercompany balances, accruals, provisions, impairments, and write-offs.Identify balance sheet and accounting risks early and escalate with mitigation plans.Partner with FP&A and Treasury to ensure working capital accuracy and visibility.4. Internal Controls & ComplianceImplement and enforce internal control frameworks across NEA finance processes.Ensure adherence to Delegation of Authority (DoA), approval matrices, and financial policies.Partner with Internal Audit on risk assessments and remediation actions.Maintain audit-ready operations with strong documentation discipline.5. Performance Enablement & Finance PartnershipSupport NEA finance leadership with clean, reliable financial actuals.Enable fact-based performance reviews through disciplined variance analysis.Provide controllership input into pricing, cost, and commercial decisions.Ensure forecasts and plans are grounded in credible actuals.6. ERP, Systems & Process StandardizationOwn finance control requirements within ERP processes (R2R, O2C, P2P).Ensure system configurations support strong controls and reporting accuracy.Standardize close processes, templates, and reconciliation frameworks across NEA.Reduce manual workarounds and eliminate control weaknesses.7. Team Leadership & Capability DevelopmentLead and develop NEA controllership and accounting teams.Build technical depth, succession pipelines, and a strong control mindset.Set expectations for precision, accountability, and ethical conduct.Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)On-time and accurate month-end and year-end closeUnqualified statutory audit outcomesReduction in repeat audit and control findingsBalance sheet reconciliation completeness and qualityAccuracy of provisions, accruals, and intercompany balancesERP control effectiveness and reduction in manual adjustmentsFinance team capability and succession readinessExperience, Knowledge & QualificationsExperience10–14+ years total finance experience, with strong controllership focus5+ years in senior controllership or finance leadership rolesExperience in multi-entity, multi-country environmentsFMCG, manufacturing, or complex trading background preferredStrong exposure to audit-intensive and ERP-enabled finance environmentsKnowledgeDeep expertise in IFRS, statutory reporting, and audit managementStrong balance sheet, control, and risk awarenessUnderstanding of working capital and intercompany governanceFamiliarity with tax coordination and regulatory reportingQualificationsBachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related discipline (mandatory)Professional qualification required: CPA, ACCA, CA, CMA, or equivalentDirect ReportsNEA Accounting / Controllership TeamFinance Managers / Senior Accountants (as applicable)